Old Country Roofing Launches New Turn-Key Solar Division

Vacaville, Calif. - Old Country Roofing announced the formation of OCR Solar Solutions, a new division that will focus on providing comprehensive turn-key solar roofing solutions to homebuilders and homeowners that includes design, installation, warranty and integrated customer service for solar roofs. For more information visit www.OCRsolar.com.

CRRC Seeks ANSI Accreditation, CEC Blueprint Issue #86 (Title 24 Update)

Oakland, Calif. - The Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC) is pursuing American

National Standards Institute (ANSI) accreditation as an Accredited Standards Developer. In order to become an Accredited Standards Developers, the CRRC will need to meet ANSI’s Essential Requirements, which require the process for standards development to be fair, open, and balanced. For more information, visit www.ansi.org.

Additionally, the California Energy Commission (CEC) released an updated version of its newsletter, Blueprint (#86), on cool roofing intended to clarify some existing Title 24 requirements, including elaboration on barrel roofing and conditioned space that doesn’t reach the warehouse ceiling. For more information, visit www.energy.ca.gov/efficiency/blueprint/.

Lastly, Southern California Edison Company’s Cool Roof Rebate Program is providing incentives for qualifying SCE customers. In order for homeowners to qualify for the rebate, they must utilize CRRC-rated roofing materials that meet SCE’s prescribed minimum solar reflectance and thermal emittance requirements. SCE is offering two rebate levels for steep slopes, and one for low slopes. For more information, visit www.sce.com/RebatesandSavings/Residential/_Heating+and+Cooling/CoolRoof/.

CRRC Upgrades Rated Products Directory to Meet Growing Market for Cool Steep-Slope Roofing Products

Oakland, Calif. - The Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC) upgraded their products directory from a static list in pdf format to a searchable Web interface. With over 750 rated products, the CRRC’s searchable directory allows architects, roof specifiers, building owners and other users to readily find a CRRC-rated product, and allows users to search the directory by key parameters, including material type, manufacturing company, radiative properties, and slope. Additionally, the results page allows users to sort their search results by any of the key parameters by clicking on the column headings. For more information, visit www.coolroofs.org/products/search.php.

InformeDesign Releases Implications on Green Roofs and Teaching the Design Process

Washington, D.C. - InformeDesign’s issue of Implications, a monthly newsletter on design and human behavior, that investigates the benefits of green roof and offers a brief discussion on teaching design process. The issue notes that although the technology for present-day green roofs was developed in Germany about 30 years ago and is used throughout Europe today, green roofs have only recently attracted attention in the United States despite the many advantages including: stormwater management, air quality and thermal benefits, noise insulation, social and psychological benefits, and economic benefits. For more information, visit www.informedesign.umn.edu.

P3 Design Competition for Sustainability

Washington, D.C. - On September 29, 2006, EPA awarded $420,000 to 42 student teams for the 2006-2007 academic year to research and develop cutting-edge, sustainable solutions to environmental challenges. The People, Prosperity and the Planet (P3) competition encourages university teams to address an environment issue while providing economic opportunities and maintaining economic growth. This year’s teams will work on developing alternative energy sources, providing clean water to rural communities, new methods of recycling, novel options for green buildings, designing sustainable buildings, and much more.

Started in 2004, the People, Prosperity and the Planet (P3) sustainability design competition encourages university teams to develop projects that are environmentally protective, efficiently use natural resources and are economically competitive. Projects are being done by 42 student design teams, who received $420,000 in grants from the EPA, to research and develop sustainable environmental solutions. Students at Southern Illinois University will develop green roofs made of plants for improved stormwater management, increased energy conservation, reduced urban heat island effects, and extended roof life. Students at the University of Tennessee will test whether algae (one-celled plants) can generate enough hydrogen energy in a biohydrogen facility to produce transportation fuel for a city of 100,000 people. For more information, visit www.es.epa.gov/ncer/p3/current/index.html and www.epa.gov/p3.

Portland State University Study Aims to Support Use of Ecoroofs

Portland, Ore. - Portland State University researchers will create computer models of ecoroofs based upon thorough research into their energy savings and stormwater abatement benefits. This engineering research will be combined with a detailed modeling of economic costs and benefits. The combined result will be integrated into an industry standard software design tool allowing building professionals to evaluate the right plants, soil, and a host of other critical factors including cost to ensure the best roof performance for the local conditions, design, and business objectives. Researchers and those supporting the study think this information could dramatically expand the market for ecoroofs, since design professionals will have the tools necessary to evaluate the roofs’ performance in each particular climate. For more information, visit www.pdx.edu/sustainability.

Solarworld Group to Build Solar Factory in U.S.

Camarillo, Calif. / Bonn, Germany - SolarWorld AG will establish an integrated solar silicon wafer and solar cell production in Hillsboro, Ore., that will reach a capacity of 500 MW by the year 2009, the company reports. The SolarWorld Group took over the silicon wafer production of the Japanese Komatsu Group, and will further develop the new site with an investment of about $400 million. Oregon will support these investments with property and business energy tax credits, and the SolarWorld Group will shift its solar crystallization activities from Vancouver, Wash., to Hillsboro and start production in summer 2007. www.solarworld.de/oregon.